His statement of "taking responsibility" seemed to be in the context of the other 23 counts. I did not understand that to be conceding culpability. In fact, in other parts of the interview he noted that it occurred five years ago and he feels he has a good chance of overturning it on appeal; he also mentioned that "it was not a false statement"; and he described the circumstances in which there was no court reporter and that he cooperated by volunteering to be interviewed by the agents.

impressive in discharging his public relations objectives in a sparring arena with a skillful interviewer who deploys his comedic mastery like a friendly stiletto. Rod came across, to me, as being an affable scoundrel, but whose unorthodox defense, in and out of the courtroom, has caused headaches for Fitzgerald and, so far, has worked for him.

Different circumstances, of course, but it reminds me a little of the "crazy" behavior of William Ginsburg in representation of Monica Lewinsky in those first months. While his strategy became shopworn, the unorthodox representation confounded Starr, to the early advantage of his client.